Many are still buzzing about the recent statement by Amazon's Jeff Bezos on CBS's "60 Minutes" that the company hopes to be delivering small packages to private homes in just 30 minutes by unmanned drones within five years.

But while the merits or potential problems suggested by that scenario continue to be debated, work proceeds at the University of Colorado to boost the state's chances of being a leader in developing the seemingly limitless potential of drones, from agriculture to commerce, law enforcement and beyond.

CU assembled and submitted the state's application in May to be awarded one of six national Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, test sites, and the Federal Aviation Administration is committed to naming those six by the end of this month.

Now, formation last month of the startup business Rocky Mountain UAS is seen by proponents of drone technology at CU as greatly strengthening Colorado's chances of being awarded one of the test sites.

"Of everything that has happened so far, that's the biggest news so far, that we've been able to reach out and partner with those who are interested in this endeavor to create a company," said CU aerospace engineering sciences professor Brian Argrow.

"This is an example of CU working with a local industry to create this company that will partner with CU," Argrow said. "It's a statewide industry because people from all over the state are involved in this."

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When CU put in the seventh and final volume of its application to the FAA in May, it was not just doing so in the university's name. It represented the work product, and involvement, of about 100 team members representing 10 regional economic development agencies, seven universities, five industry associations, two state agencies and dozens of private companies. The Colorado bid was one of 50 proposals from 36 states.

It has been estimated that should Colorado land a site, it could mean $1.4 billion and 1,760 jobs for the state's economy between 2015 and 2025. The FAA is under mandate from Congress to integrate commercial drones into the nation's airspace starting in 2015.

Rocky Mountain UAS, which shows in state records as having an address in Castle Rock, is now working hand-in-hand with CU and the rest of the state's UAS interests to prepare for the state's hoped-for future in UAS development.

"The way I would put it is that we are collaborating very closely with CU-Boulder and RECUV," said Rocky Mountain UAS CEO Gary Bartmann, a former vice president with Lockheed Martin, referring to CU's Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles.

"We talk to CU on almost a daily basis, 'Have you heard anything, this is what we're thinking, this is what we're doing in anticipation'" of the FAA's announcement.

It remains unclear, should Colorado land one of the six test sites, exactly where it would be located. As described by those pursuing the bid, it appears it would in effect be functioning in different ways at multiple locations.

"There are some UAS operations that are already happening in Colorado today, for research purposes or law enforcement," Bartmann said. "And, should we be awarded a test site by the FAA, we intend to leverage those already-existing test sites first."

Those existing test sites have certificates of waiver and authorization, known in the drone community as COAs, granting permission by the FAA to fly unmanned aircraft in specified airspace. CU now holds 15 active COAs, and 123 more that are no longer active.

After the site selections are announced, Bartmann said, "What will happen is that within 20 days after signing the contract, we need to sit down with the FAA and have a face-to-face meeting to understand the details on how we would roll things out. All of this is subject to FAA approval, but it's a pretty safe bet that leveraging the existing COAs, if that's within the FAA's thinking, that that would be the way to go."

The FAA would say little Thursday about exactly when its announcement might come.

"The only thing I can tell you is that it's going to be before the end of the month -- but we have not yet set a date," said FAA spokesman Les Dorr.

CU's Argrow, meanwhile, did not appear excited about Amazon's vision for drone-to-doorstep delivery of CDs, books and Christmas mittens in the next few years.

"At that point, I think that's where I'll stop talking," said Argrow, when asked. "I think enough has been said about that."

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